10 January 2014, New Delhi: The match started off at a breakneck pace as Germany’s Christopher Wesley scored the opening goal with less than 20 seconds played. However, the Blacksticks were not rocked at all and equalised through a penalty corner goal from Kane Russell (5’).

This time Germany provided an immediate answer thanks to Thilo Stralkowski (11’) netting from Germany’s first penalty corner. Towards the middle of the first half the Olympic champions took control of the match but time and again New Zealand keeper Devon Manchester prevented them from scoring.

However, Manchester was eventually defeated when Florian Fuchs (31’), FIH Young Player of the Year 2012, deflected a penalty corner flick from Martin Häner to extend the German lead to 3-1.

The second half saw Germany becoming the dominant side. In a five-minute spell Germany extended their lead by a further three goals. Stralkowski (44’) added another penalty corner goal, one minute later Tobias Hauke (45’) scored from open play to make it 5-1, then Jan-Philipp Rabente (48’) put his name on the score sheet.

Throughout the match, the Blacksticks tried to play expansive and open hockey but just found their opponents too strong on the day.

Speaking post the win Germany Coach Markus Weise said “It’s a good start for us for the tournament. The team was lucky to have scored 3 goals in 5 minutes in the second half of the match. The defence was very good but somehow we gave many too many corners and I think if New Zealand would have been successful in converting those corners then the score card would have showed a different picture”.

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